International Women's Day (8 March) was celebrated with special enthusiasm this year by members of the parties and organisations affiliated to the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), including the Socialist Party in England and Wales.

Following the Leicester Reclaim the Night march, the local Socialist Party invited the University of Leicester Feminist Society to speak at a meeting on rape and sexual violence. The society declined and said some "FemSoc committee and members... felt that the [Socialist Party] were trying to take over women's issues with socialism."

National meeting for women in the Socialist Party, Sunday 8 January, 10am - 3.30pm
Morning: Women and the Cuts - how the crisis is affecting women
Afternoon: The Socialist Party and the Women's Movement

The Socialist Women weekend school, held in London on 29-30 November, started with a discussion on the Great Depression and a comparison to today's crisis, writes Sarah Wrack, Brighton Socialist Party.